Switch device



NOV. 29, 19380 R, R. E 2,138,629

SWITCH DEVICE Filed Aug. 1, 1936 /Z I, If 3 46 25 2 Sheets-Sheet l III Jur-

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 29, 1938.

R. ERBE SWITCH DEVICE Fi1ed Aug. 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 3 i vm, ii? .0 1 V/IIL u I 6 7 \FLD 0 VII 1 l I .III .L u

INVENTOR. R01 17/ 7?. [R65 BY I f 1 fi lf- ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 1, 1936, Serial No. 93,805

.12 Claims.

This invention relates to a switch device for coin control devices which is applicable to dispensing machines operatively controlled by the insertion of a coin, such as automatic phonographs, player pianos, game devices,- vending machines and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simplified structure adapted to close a,

circuit upon the insertion of a coin, which circuit will cause the controlled machine to operate through a definite cycle, depending upon the type and functions of the machine operated. In addition thereto, by a mechanical adjustment of the coin device, the operating'circuit may be maintained in closed position for a predetermined number of cycles of operation. For example, as applied to an automaticphonograph, which in one cycle plays a phonograph record from the beginning to the end thereof, this device may be adjusted to cause said phonograph to play one, two, three, four five, six or more records upon the insertion of a single coin. Thus, it may be adjusted to play two records on a nickel device, three records on a dime device and six or more records on a quarter device.

The particular feature of the invention resides in the mechanical adjustment in simplified form which may be readily and conveniently manipulated to cause the device to operate a given number of times, depending upon the adjustment as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and described.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the mechanism of the coin control mechanism with the top cover of the casing removed. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the mechanism in non-operated position. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism in non-operative position with parts thereof removed. Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3 with the mechanism in operated position. Fig. 5 is -the same as Fig. 3 showing the positioning of the mechanism immediately following the operation. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. '7 is a section taken on the line 'I-I of- Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 isa central vertical section through a portion of the device with parts removed, showing it in the non-operated position of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Fig. 10 is the same as Fig. 9 showing it in the operated position of Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram showing the application of three combined devices; applicable for nickels, dimes andquarters, respectively. Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of Fig. 1.

In the drawings there is illustrated a coin slide l0 having an aperture H for receiving a coin inserted therein. Said slide operates in the usual manner within a housing l2 having a coin seat |3 mounted upon a supporting bracket I5 adapted to be secured to the wall of the machine so that said slide protrudes outwardly therefrom. The actuating mechanism in respect to the coin slide, is arranged on the other side of the bracket I5 so asto extend within the machine cabinet, and comprises the usual coin engaging levers l6 and I1, the latter being actuated by a leaf spring I8 and the former by. an internalspring to normally engage the slide II). There is further provided a coin-engaging side lever l9 actuated by an internal spring, all of which devices are commonly employed for preventing operation of the device without the proper coin being placed within the aperture 1 I, and which mechanism forms no part of this invention.

Associated with the coin slide and its mechanism there is provided a housing or box 20 having a removable cover plate 2|. Keyed to the shaft 22 mounted between the side walls of the box and extending laterally thereof, there is a contact drum 23 which is provided longitudinally thereof with a recess 24 cut in its peripheral surface. Secured at the far end of the box there is a contact support 25 upon which the fixed ends of the spring contact members 26, 21 and 28 are secured and insulated from each other by the insulation plates 29. To one side thereof, and similarly supported, there is. a pair of spring contact members 30 and 3|. Said drum is adapted to be rotated by the shaft 22. In its normal position, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9, the upwardly projection tongues 21a on the spring contacts 21 and 30, protrude into the slot so as to disengage and break the circuit through the spring contacts 28 and 3|, respectively. Upon the drum 23 being rotated by the shaft 22 to the position shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 10, the tongues 21a are moved out of the slot and forced downwardly by engagement with the peripheral surface of said drum. In this position the spring contacts 21 and 30 are forced into engagement with the spring contacts 28 and 3|, respectively, so as to close the circuits therethrough, as will be hereinafter set forth. For rotating the shaft 22 and drum 23 there is secured on said shaft a ratchet wheel 32 adapted to be engaged by the pawl 33 on the end of the lever 3 pivoted to a lever 35, which in turn is pivoted upon the shaft 22. The lever 35 normally nests within the flanged edge of the lever 34.

.adjustably mounted upon the bottom of the box and extending over the slot 35 there is an hidicating stop member 38 provided with a pointer adapted to register with indicating marks placed on the bottom of the box. A suitable adjusting screw ii is provided for locking the member 33 in such adjusted position as will indicete the number of records, cycles or the like to be performed by the machine. As shown in Fig. 8, said member is set for playing five records on a phonograph or operating the machine through five cycles upon the insertion of a single coin.

Secured to the side of the box adjacent the when the recess is in position to be engaged by the tongues 21a. Consequently, when the ratchet 32 comes to rest with its pin 13 against the stop member 42, the circuit through the spring contacts 2?, 28 and 30, 3!, will be broken.

Also keyed to the shaft 22 adjacent the other side of the box, as shown in Fig. 2, there is a ratchet wheel 45 having teeth corresponding to the teeth on the ratchet wheel 32. Pivoted adjacent thereto, and intermediate its ends, there is a dog at having one end secured to the spring 1? which in turnis connected with the side oi. the box. The other end of said dog is connected by a link 48 to the core 49 of a solenoid 50 which is secured to the side of the box. The pawls 5| and 52 of the dog are arranged in the manner of an escapement device so that upon the solehold 55 being energized and the core 49 retracted, the pawl 54 will permit rotation of the ratchet wheel one tooth. A spring 53 is coiled about the shaft 22 having one end connected to the drum and the other end to the pivotal mounting of the dog 46. Said spring causes rotation of the drum and ratchet counterclockwise upon disengagement of each ratchet tooth, respectively, by the pawl 52, the latter limiting the rotation to the extent ofone tooth upon each actuation by the solenoid;

For rotating the ratchet wheel 45 against the tension spring 53, the lever 34isoperated by the forward end of the coin slidelo. As illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, said coin slide III is supported upon the bottom of the box below the end wall 55, the end of said slide, being provided with a. laterally extending sliding plate 55 having a bev eled end 51 which is normally. retracted by the spring 58. Said plate is alsozprovided with a beveled projection 59. Theprojection 59 is adapted to engage the actuatinglever 34 to move it forwardly in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6, from the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 6 to those shown in Figs. 4 and 7. Said box is provided with an upstanding projection 60 from the bottom thereof adapted to be engaged by the edge of the beveled end;5'l of the plate 58 which causes said plate to slide laterally to the position shown in Figs. 'Zgand8, so that the projection 59, which engages the lever 34, will slide laterally into disengagingpqsition and permit,

the spring 31 to retractsaid lever; H

In the circuit, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the

spring contacts 21, 28 and 30, 3|, are normally open, whereas the spring contacts 25, 21 are normally closed. Upon insertion of a coin in one of the three devices indicated in Fig. 11, the spring contacts 21, 28 and 30, 3| will be closed, whereas spring contacts 26, 21 will be open. This will cause current to pass to the machine for operating it, from the source 10 through the line H, through the electrical mechanism of the machine and back through the line 19 to the line 18, through spring contacts 30, 3|, line 12 to the source. Thus, the spring contacts 30, 3| control the circuit to the machine.

The retrieving switch comprising contact members 15 and 17, which is actuated upon completion of the cycle, or manually, if desired, closes the circuit through the particular solenoid 50 of the one device of the three shown in Fig. 11 which has been operated. In this instance, the circuit passes from source 10 through line H, contact members 17, 15 to line; 18, through contact members 27, 28 to line 14, solenoid 59, line I3, contact members 30, 3!, and line 12 to the source. Thus, solenoid 55 will be energized to retrieve the actuating mechanism one unit of movement in the opposite direction from that unit of movement which has been actuated ,by insertion of the coin. The purpose of the spring contacts 26, 21 is to prevent current from passing to either of the other two solenoids of the unoperated devices. The third device does not need the circuit breaking spring contacts 26, 21 or 28,

. as will be obvious in considering the wiring diagram. I

In operation, the normal and inoperative position of the coin device is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, 6 and 9. In this position, no current is being supplied to the machine from the source II through the lines ll, 12. Upon the coin being placed in the aperture H and the coin slide I. manually pushed inwardly, the projection 59 on the end thereo't will engage the lever 34. Depending upon the number of cycles through which the machine is to be operated by a single coin, the adjustable block 38 is positioned in the path of said arm 34 so that it will be normally maintained at a predetermined non-operated position by the spring 3! and block 38. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the adjustment is such that five cycles of operation will be rendered by a single coin. In this adjustable position, the lever 34 will be moved through the slot 35 to the forward end of the box by the projection 59, which movement actuates the ratchet wheel 32 five teeth, such as will operate the machine through five cycles. If the block 38 were moved forwardly to the No. 1 position, the shorter movement oi the lever would move the ratchet wheel only one tooth for one cycle of operation. 11' it were moved in the other direction to the sixth position (Fig. 8), then said lever would have a longer swing, efiecting an operation of six teeth for six cycles of the machine.

With the block set for the desired number of cycles, the projection 59 will move the lever 34 to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 7, whereupon engagement with the plate 50 will retract the projection so as to release the lever and permit the spring 31 to return it to initial position. Upon returning to its initial position, it will rotate the ratchet wheel 32 clockwise until its pin 43 is five teeth from the stop member 42, the position shown in Fig. 5. Thereupon the lever 35, upon which it is pivoted, is brought back to the the ratchet wheel.

This operation rotates the drum 23 to the position shown in Fig. 10, as well as the'ratchet wheel 45. In this position, the drum causes engagement between the spring contacts 21, 28

and 30, 3|, and disengagement of the spring contacts 2B and 21. Thereupon the circuit from the source of supply to the machine is completed for causing the operation thereof until the drum is returned to the position shown in Fig. 9 by five actuations of the wheel 45, through energizing of the solenoid 50. v

After each cycle of the machine, such as the completion of the playing of a record, the dispensing of a predetermined quantity of a commodity or the like, the machine causes the switch members '15 and 11 to make contact, which closes a circuit through one of the solenoids 50. Said solenoid being energized, retracts the core 49, which operates the escapement dog 46 to rotate the ratchet 45 against the tension of the spring are equivalent to five teeth, wherefore it required five operations of the solenoid to return it to its normal position. Similarly, if the setting of the block 38 is for one cycle, the ratchet wheel would be moved only the distance of one tooth so that only one operation of the solenoid at the end of the cycle would be necessary to return the drum to circuit breaking position. It will be understood, therefore, that the number of cycles through which the machine may be operated is governed, within limits, by the distance through which the lever 34 is operated, and this distance may be controlled by the position of the adjusting block against which the lever comes to rest.

Summing up the above description of the actuating mechanism and wiring diagram, it will be noted that the device is applicable to any electrically operated dispensing machine, such as an automatic phonograph, which dispenses music through reproduction of a record, a milk dispensing machine, a candy or cigarette dispensing machine, or the like. Each of these machines may be operated through one or more cycles of operation, i. e., the phonograph may be operated through one or more record reproductions, the milk dispensing machine may dispense one or more glasses of milk, or the cigarette dispensing machine may dispense one or more packages of cigarettes. Each device embodies the coin oper ablemember in the form of the slide HLwhich -may be operatedupon actuation oi. the coin in the aperture I I.

Each device embodies a movable element which is illustrated herein as the rotating drum 23 Figs. 9 and 10. This movement is accomplished through the engagement of the projection 53 with the lever 34 which engages the ratchet 32 keyed to the shaft 22 upon which said drum is keyed. Said movable element or drum is thus moved by reason of the ratchet tooth engagement a unit of movement, which unit of movement is sufllcient to make the circuit by forcing the tongue 21a out.

of the recess 24,'causing spring contact 21 to dis-.- engage spring contact 26 and engage spring contact 28, as shown in Fig. 10. The device further embodies the electrically actuated means, such as the solenoid 50, for moving the element or drum 23 in the opposite direction a correspond-' the machine after completing the playing of a record or discharging one package of cigarettes or the dispensing of any similar unit of the commodity.

Upon completion of a predetermined number of such cycles, the movable element or drum will be returned, to starting position, as shown in Fig. 9, wherein the circuit to the machine will be broken through disengagement of the spring contact 21 with the spring contact 28. The means for adjustably setting said mechanism for moving the movable element or drum 23 -a predetermined number of units of movement upon a single actuation by said member or coin slide l0, comprises the adjustable block 38 which controls the extent of travel of the lever 34 when pushed forwardly by the slide Hi. This may be adjusted so that the travel of the lever will rotate the ratchet 32 and drum 23 either one, two, three or more units of movement, wherein it willfrequire an equal number of cycles of operation for the machine to return said member or drum through the medium of the solenoid 50 to its normal circuit breaking position.

, The invention claimed is:

1. A switch device, including an actuating member, a movable element for making and breaking an electric actuating circuit, mechanism actuated by said member 1301' moving said element in one direction one or more units of movement for closing said circuit, electrically actuated means for moving said element a unit of movement in the opposite direction upon each actuation of said means for breaking said circuit upon return of said element to starting position, and means for adjustably setting said mechanism for moving said element a predetermined number of said units of movement upon a single actuation by said member.

2. A switch device, including an actuating slide adapted to be manually reciprocated, a movable a element for making and breaking an electric actuating circuit, mechanism actuated by the sliding movement of said slide for moving said element in one direction one or more units of movement for closing said circuit, electrically actuated means for moving said element a unit of move ment in the opposite direction upon each actuation of said means for breaking said'circuit upon return of said element to starting position, and means for adjustably setting said mechanism for moving said element a predetermined number of said units of movement upon a single actuation by said slide.

' 3. A switch device, including an actuating meman electric actuating circuit, mechanism actuated by said member for rotating said drum in one motion one or more units of movement for closing said circuit, electrically actuated means for rotating said drum 2. unit of movement in the opposite direction upon each actuation of said means for breaking said circuit upon return of said drum to starting position, and means for adjustably setting said mechanism for rotating said drum a predetermined number of said units of rotation upon a single actuation by said memoer.

4. A switch device, including an actuating member, a rotating element for making and breaking an electric actuating circuit to said machine, a ratchet wheel rotatable with said element, a pawl actuated by said member for engaging said ratchet wheel and rotating it with said element in one direction one or more units of movement for closing said circuit, electrically actuated means for rotating said element a unit of rotation in the opposite direction upon each actuation of said means for breaking said circuit l upon return of said element to starting position,.

and means for adjustably setting the starting position of said pawl for moving said element a predetermined number of units of rotation upon a single actuation by said member.

5. A switch device, including a manually operable slide, a rotating drum for making and breaking an electric actuating circuit, a ratchet wheel rotatable with said drum, a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel and move it in one direction with said drum a distance displaced by one tooth thereof, said pawl being actuated by said slide for closing said circuit, electrically actuated means for rotating said drum in the opposite direction the displacement of one ratchet tooth upon each actuation of said means for breaking said circuit upon return of said drum to its starting position, and means for adjustably setting the position of said pawl for moving said ratchet and drum a predetermined number of tooth displacements upon a single actuation thereof by said slide.

6. A switch device, including an actuating member, a rotatable element for making and breaking an electric actuating circuit, mechanism actuated by said member for moving said element in one direction a plurality of units of movement for closing said circuit, an electric retracting circuit, a solenoid in said retracting circuit, means actuated by said solenoid for rotating said element a unit of movement in the opposite direction upon each actuation of said solenoid for breaking said control circuit upon the return of said element to starting position, and means for adjustably setting said mechanism for moving said element a predetermined number of said units of movement upon a single actuation by said member.

'7. A switch device, including an actuating member, a rotating element for making and her, a rotating drum for making and breaking return of said element to starting position, and means for adiustably setting said mechanism for moving said element a predetermined number of said units of movement upon a single actuation by said member. f

8. A switch device, including an actuating member, a rotating drum having a recess therein, a pair of spring contacts normally spaced from each other out of engagement, one above the other, the upper contact extending into said re-' 10 cess and being forced into engagement with the lower contact upon rotation. of the drum and disengaged upon the drum returning to initial position for engagement of the contact in said recess, an electric circuit including spring 0011- 15 tacts. mechanism actuated by said member for rotating said drum in one direction one or more units of movement from initial position, electrically actuated means for rotating said drum 2. unit of movement in the opposite direction upon each. actuation of said means until said drum is returned to its initial or circuit breaking position, and means for adjustablysetting said mech anism for rotating said drum a predetermined unit of movement upon a single actuation by said member.

9. A series of switch devices, each device including an actuating member, a movable element for making and breaking an electric actuating circuit, mechanism actuated by said member for moving said element in one direction one or more units of movement for closing said circuit, an electrically actuated solenoid for moving said element a unit of. movement in the opposite direc-tion upon each actuation of said solenoid for breaking said circuit upon return to starting position, means for adjustably setting said mech anism for moving said element a predetermined number of said units of movement upon a single actuation by said member, a retrieving switch in electric circuit with said devices, and a control switch in at least one of said devices for directing the current in the circuit to the solenoid of the actuated device and preventing the current from entering the solenoid of a non-actuated device.

16. A switch device for an electrically operated machine adapted to be operated through one or more cycles of operation including an actuating member, a rotating drum for making and breaking an electric actuating circuit to said machine, mechanism actuated by said member for moving said element in one direction one or more units of movement for closing said circuit, electrically actuated means for moving said element a unit of movement in the opposite direction upon each actuation of said means for breaking said circuit upon return of said element to starting position, and a manually adjustable stop member for varying the extent of movemerit of said element upon a single actuation by said member for causing said machine to operate through a predetermined number of cycles.

11. A switch device, including an actuating member, a movable element for making and breaking an electric actuating circuit, a lever moved by said member through a predetermined distance of movement, a pawl and ratchet actuated by the movement of said lever for moving said element in one direction one or more units of movement depending upon the extent of movement of said element for closing said circuit, electrically actuated means for moving said element a unit of movement in an opposite direction upon each actuation of said means for breaking said circuit upon return of said element to starting position, and a manually adjusted stop member adapted to be set in position to control the extent of movement of said lever for controlling the number of cycles of operation i ing a box, a slide operable in said box, a drum rotatably mounted in said box having a recess in the surface thereof, make and break spring contacts mounted in said box adapted to close an electric" circuit to said machine upon disengagement from said recess and break said circuit upon engagement with said recess, a lever actuated by said slide through a predetermined travel, a ratchet wheel keyed to said drum adapted to be rotated in one direction one or more units of movement by said lever for rotating said drum to circuit closing position, an electric retrieving circuit, a solenoid in said retrieving circuit, a retrieving ratchet wheel rotatable with said drum, an escapement member for rotating said wheel and drum in the opposite direction the displacement of one unit of movement upon said solenoid being energized by said retrieving circuit whereby said actuating circuit will be broken upon return of said drum to starting position with said spring contacts engaging the groove therein, and a manually slidable stop member on said box positioned in the path of movement of said lever to vary the distance of movement thereof by said slide for controlling the number of units of movement imparted thereby to said ratchet wheel and drum.

RALPH R. ERBE. 

